4Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,

who have no confidence in the proud

or in those who worship idols.

5O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.

Your plans for us are too numerous to list.

You have no equal.

If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,

I would never come to the end of them.

6You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

Now that you have made me listen, I finally understanda—

you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

7Then I said, “Look, I have come.

As is written about me in the Scriptures:

8I take joy in doing your will, my God,

for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9I have told all your people about your justice.

I have not been afraid to speak out,

as you, O LORD, well know.

10I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;

I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.

I have told everyone in the great assembly

of your unfailing love and faithfulness. (NLT)

If in the first three verses we see David waiting, here we find him witnessing. Note that witness is not only a matter of life (3 – people seeing our good deeds and glorifying the Father in heaven: Mt.5:16); it also involves our lips. Fear can hold a person back, but David was not to be silenced, although he had many enemies. Christian witness is both visual and vocal.

‘When we are delivered, let us set our gladness to music and embody it in renewed consecration, vv.4-10. Let us not hide God’s love in our hearts, but tell it out.’ F.B. Meyer

It is significant that Hebrews 10:5-7 places verses 6-8 on the lips of Christ. Under the Old Covenant, God very much did desire…Sacrifice and offering (see the book of Leviticus). But David’s words are prophetic of Jesus, who in offering Himself as the final, perfect Sacrifice, did away with any further need for Sacrifice and offering. At the heart of Christian witness there lies a simple pointing to Christ and His Cross as the only effective cure for human sin.

But verses 6-8 were spoken by David, and said something about him in the first place. David knew that ritual was not sufficient for God, who wanted ‘living sacrifices’ (see Rom.12:1,2). This is what enabled David to be a courageous witness. He desired to do God’s will. He sought to be surrendered to God.

PRAYER: ”O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (Ps.51:15 ESV)